48-hour LoC lull ends: Indian, Pak troops exchange fire

Indian and Pakistani troops on Saturday night traded heavy gunfire along the Line of Control in Poonch sector after the movement of a group of suspected infiltrators was detected.

"There was a movement of six to seven people close to LoC opposite Krisha Ghati sub-sector in Poonch at around 9.45 pm," said Defence Spokesman Colonel R K Palta.

There was no immediate report of casualty or injury on the Indian side.

Indian troops opened fire on the suspected infiltrators, the spokesman said, adding that exchange of heavy fire took place after that.

After about half-an-hour of exchange of fire, the suspected infiltrators disappeared from the scene, Colonel Palta said, adding the intensity of firing from both sides has reduced, but it is still going on.

It is suspected that either a group of militants or an Action Team could have been moving close to the LoC.

The exchange of fire on Saturday night broke a lull of 48 hours.

Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire by firing mortar shells on Indian posts along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district on Thursday, the defence spokesman said.

This was the third ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops along Poonch sector after the barbaric killing of two Indian jawans.